In case the pre-launch ‘buzz’ has slipped you by, here’s a quick outline for Missing:

Becca Winstone (Ashley Judd) learns that her son, Michael, disappears while studying abroad, and it’s a race against time when she travels to Europe to track him down. A surprising turn of events reveals just how far one mother will go to protect her family. Exotic locations and thrilling twists will keep you riveted in “Missing.”

Following Tuesday’s press tour, here’s a breakdown of what viewers can expect from Missing:

Each of the episodes was shot on location in a different European city.

The show’s budget is “in the middle-range” of the budgets of all the network’s hour dramas.

The show was be shot more cheaply abroad than in Los Angeles and has already been sold in various international markets.

Foreign characters will speak in their native tongues, with subtitles.

ABC ordered the 10 completed episodes without a pilot.

“You will get the same production value in Episode 7 as in Episode 1.” — EP Gina Matthews.

The midseason placement allows for uninterrupted transmission.

Any subsequent seasons will feature no more than 13 episodes.

Judd has stunt doubles, but “I do most of my own stunts. When I’m on that bridge in Paris and I’m shot and I fall into the Seine, I really did that,” she says.

On what encouraged Judd to get into TV (Missing is Judd’s first TV series as a headliner, she appeared on the 1990’s drama Sisters):

“Obviously I was aware that this is a golden age of television. The once impermeable membrane between TV actors and film actors is [disappearing]. I remember turning on The Big C, which is a show that I love, and seeing Liam Neeson.”

“Each episode [of Missing] is great TV set in a glorious European capital. What’s not to like?”

And here’s the bit you really want to know:

The overarching story (the search for Judd’s missing son) will continue throughout all episodes, though each episode will have its own ”open-and-close” story.

In a possible jab at shows like AMC’s The Killing, creator/executive producer Gregory Poirier promised that there would be a logical closure to each season:

“I am as annoyed as anybody by mystery shows that say to find out what happens, tune in next season. I will tell you this story will close by the end of the season, and you will have a strong idea where we’re going next season. I’m not going to say specifically, but we set out not to give you one of those disappointments.”

SPOILER ALERT

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STOP READING IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW A MAJOR ‘MISSING’ SPOILER!

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As for why the series kills off Judd’s co-star Sean Bean so quickly. Poirier revealed that the character remains alive in flashbacks.

Comments

ABC could get off the stick and release a few trailers. I mean the show does debut in 60 days. I’ve seen a few TV promos in Canada beginning at Christmas, but nothing on the Interwebs since that initial “Hi, I’m Ashley Judd” clip from almost a year ago. We’ve had “Alcatraz” and “Touch” clips to ponder for several months now. Different network, obviously, but why the cone of silence from ABC?